WORLD
China ramps up spending on its military as US looks to cut costs
The announcement is set to be made at an annual gathering of the nation’s legislature in Beijing that the government uses to roll out major plans and policies for the year.
WORLD
Asian stocks advance after whipsawing on tariffs
Hong Kong shares outperformed, and a regional gauge rose after China set a 5% growth target, following mayhem on Tuesday
WORLD
Putin agrees to help Trump broker nuclear talks with Iran
Top US and Russian officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, discussed Washington’s interest in Moscow helping with Iranian issues during a February 18 meeting in Riyadh, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
WORLD
CK Hutchison sells Panama ports to BlackRock amid Donald Trump pressure
Hutchison has run the ports in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal under a concession that was first signed in 1997 and, in 2021, extended until 2047
TECHNOLOGY
Anthropic finalizes megaround at $61.5 billion valuation
Late last year, the company’s annual revenue run rate was about $1 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter. So far this year, that number has increased by 30%, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.
BUSINESS
Prudential is said to seek $12-billion valuation for ICICI Pru AMC IPO
Prudential may seek to file an initial draft prospectus for the Mumbai IPO as soon as May, according to people familiar with the matter
BUSINESS
Oyo speeds up IPO plans as founder's debt repayment date looms: Report
Founder Ritesh Agarwal had borrowed $2.2 billion in 2019 to increase his stake in Oyo. That loan was restructured in 2022, and Agarwal is yet to pay back its first tranche, the report said
BUSINESS
Canada retaliates, imposes tariffs on $107 billion of US products
It’s a trade war that will disrupt one of the world’s largest bilateral trade relationships, worth more than $900 billion in annual goods and services.
BUSINESS
Asian stocks decline after tariffs spark US rout
Investors are increasingly becoming wary about rising geopolitical tensions and the prospect of tit-for-tat tariffs worsening the global trade spat.
WORLD
TSMC poised to announce $100 billion investment in US plants
TSMC is the world’s leader in production of advanced semiconductors used for artificial intelligence, and the investment would help bolster Trump’s pledge to make the US dominant in AI
BUSINESS
Tata Capital seeks as much as $11 billion value in IPO
Tata Capital’s board last week approved the listing of as many as 23 crore shares, along with an offer for sale of equity by existing shareholders. It also announced a rights issue of as much as Rs 1504 crore.
BUSINESS
Mexico’s star economy dreams crumble under Donald Trump’s tariff threats
Amid intense negotiations, the deadline for the implementation of those tariffs was delayed by one month to March 4. But even if Mexico eventually avoids them, the uncertainty they create may be enough to tip the economy into recession.
BUSINESS
Bubble-tea giant Mixue surges after Hong Kong's biggest IPO of year
The popularity of the stock helps fuel optimism over the revival of Hong Kong’s IPO market, which is projected to double this year. Enormous demand — mom-and-pop investors bid for thousands of times the shares they could buy — helped Mixue capitalize on the rage for drinks like bubble tea, a market that’s forecast to surge to $71 billion in three years.
BUSINESS
Xi prepares to unveil China stimulus plan as trade war heats up
Thousands of delegates including ministry chiefs and provincial leaders will gather Wednesday in Beijing for the parliamentary conclave, where officials will set a bullish growth goal of around 5%, according to most analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
BUSINESS
Donald Trump sparks crypto rally by saying more coins to be in reserve
Ripple was up nearly 30% at around $2.80, while Solana climbed some 20% to around $170. Cardano, a much smaller token by market value, initially rallied more than 60% before paring gains to trade at around $1.02.
WORLD
Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskiy devolve into bickering before deal signing
WORLD
China abruptly replaces tech czar behind AI and chip push
Jin Zhuanglong, a 60-year-old aerospace expert, is no longer listed as party secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Information Technology, after he disappeared from public view last December fueling speculation about his position.
BUSINESS
China vows ‘all necessary measures’ against new US tariffs
Beijing’s reaction came hours after Trump announced an additional 10% tariff would take effect March 4
MARKETS
Investors want new Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey to keep things simple
New Delhi late on Thursday appointed Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the top bureaucrat in its Finance Ministry, to head the Securities and Exchange Board of India
WORLD
Trump piles pressure on Xi with latest threat to raise tariffs
Trump said Thursday in a social media post that China will be charged an additional 10% tariff on March 4
CRYPTOCURRENCY
Bitcoin down 25% from all-time high as crypto selloff deepens
The coin was down 2.8% at $81,919.70 at 9:39 a.m. in Singapore, after hitting its lowest level since November 11
ECONOMY
India economy’s recovery likely clouded by trade risks ahead
Data due Friday will likely show gross domestic product grew 6.2% in the three months to December, according to a median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg
MARKETS
Asian shares echo US drop as tariffs sap sentiment
Shares in Australia and Japan fell while benchmarks in China and Hong Kong opened lower after the S&P 500 lost 1.6% Thursday, erasing its gains for the year
BUSINESS
India weighs tariff cuts on cars, chemicals as Trump duties loom
Officials in New Delhi are discussing reducing duties for automobiles, some agricultural products, chemicals, critical pharmaceuticals, as well as certain medical devices and electronics, the people said, asking not to be identified as the plans aren’t finalized.
